The place Chu Feng indicated was the very hall they stood in now. However, according to the map, there should have been an object at its center, but there was nothing here at the moment.
More importantly, upon closer inspection, one would realize that this hall actually had two levels. But only the lower level was currently visible, which meant there was either another level below it or another one above it. This was not the true end.
After Ziling noticed this anomaly, she quickly moved to the spot marked on the map where the object was supposed to be and set up a barrier array there.
Then, with a soft shout of "Open!", the barrier array flared with dazzling light. At the same time, in the direction of the array, a stone platform emitting seven-colored light materialized.
As the stone platform appeared, its radiance grew stronger and stronger, eventually projecting upwards to envelop the ceiling of the hall. And the most peculiar thing was that under the wash of seven-colored light, the ceiling began to transform. The special rock faded, growing thinner and thinner, until it finally started to dissipate. What appeared before Chu Feng and Ziling was another hall.
The upper hall was identical in shape to the one below, but the sole difference was that in the center of this upper hall, a rune talisman was suspended. The talisman hovered in mid-air, radiating a strange energy, as if the small talisman contained countless transformations within.
And most importantly, hovering in the air outside the talisman were nine large golden characters: Ninth-rank Martial Art.
"It's actually a Ninth-rank Martial Art!" Seeing the four large characters, Ziling's eyes lit up instantly. Her lithe figure shot forward, and she darted out, extending her delicate hand to grab the talisman containing the Ninth-rank Martial Art.
"This girl is fast."
Seeing this, Chu Feng's brow furrowed. He knew Ziling had moved so quickly because she was afraid he would snatch the Ninth-rank Martial Art before she could. This girl clearly didn't fully trust him yet.
"Buzz!" However, before Ziling's delicate hand could even touch the talisman, a strange wave of energy rippled out, instantly spreading to fill the entire upper hall.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"
Immediately after, several golden barrier chains materialized out of thin air around Ziling. These barrier chains, like swimming serpents, coiled around her body, binding her tightly.
"Damn it!"
"Aaah~~!"
At that moment, Ziling exerted all her strength trying to break free. But the moment she used force, the golden chains tightened rapidly, threatening to crush into her bones. The pain, as if her body was being pulverized, made her fair face instantly turn pale. Beads of sweat rolled down from her forehead, and she couldn't help but scream in agony.
"How can this be? This is also a trap? But I probed it with my Mental Power and there was clearly no problem."
Looking at Ziling suffering in the upper hall, Chu Feng's expression shifted. He couldn't decipher where the trap mechanism was hidden and didn't know how to rescue her. Those golden barrier chains were simply too formidable; the condensed barrier power was something Chu Feng had never encountered before. It seemed utterly unsolvable.
"Buzz." Just then, the space beside Ziling suddenly rippled, and a figure materialized.
It was a spiritual consciousness projection, its body semi-transparent. But this spirit was also a Spirit World Master, because he wore a Spirit World Robe that completely concealed his appearance.
What shocked Chu Feng the most was that the Spirit World Robe worn by this spirit projection was exceptionally extraordinary, radiating golden light and exuding an aura of immense authority.